Mop with detachable brush



May 18, 1954 P. s. VQSBIKIAN ET AL MOP WITH DETACHABLE BRUSH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1949 IISEII (Ittorneg May 18, 1954 Filed May 4, 1949 P.S.VOSBHGAN ETAL MOP WITH DETACHABLE BRUSH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 18, 1954 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOP WITH DETACHABLE BRUSH Peter S. Vosbikian and Thomas S. Vosbikian,

Melrose, Pa.

Application May 4, 1949, Serial No. 91,308

3 Claims. (01. -116) The object of our present invention is to devise a novel flexible mop head having sponge material secured to a flexible backing such as a thin strip of flexible rubber with a handle supported by a single bolt secured to the backing, with means to prevent the flexibility of the end portions in one direction at both sides of the bolt, said end portions of the sponge material and backing being free at all times to be flexed 1n the opposite direction to extract liquid carried by the sponge material.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel brush attachment retained in readily detachable position by the bolt and its nut so that a brush can be provided which is selectively positionable to have the brush operate independently of or to cooperate with the sponge material.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear, our invention comprehends a novel mop with detachable brush.

It further comprehends a novel flexible mop head having a novel construction and arrangement of a brush attachment.

A further object is to provide novel locking means for securing the handle so that the handle can be positioned at an angle to its normal position.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention,

' we have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of it which We have found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and the invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure l is a perspective view of a mop with detachable brush, embodying our invention, a handle being disassembled from the head.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the liquid being extracted into a bucket.

Figure 3 is a perspective View showing one end portion flexible in both directions and the other end portion as non-flexible in one direction so that the sponge material will contact angular surfaces.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the squeegee in operation and the sections of the stifiening member in position to form a grasping handle and the end portions of the sponge material and backing flexible in opposite directions.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view with the parts unassembled to show the manner in which a brush can be attached.

Figure 7 is an end elevation with the brush at right angles to the sponge material.

Figure 8 is an end elevation showing the sponge material and brush in simultaneous operation.

Figure 9 is a perspective view with the handle in a different position.

Figure 10 is a section on line lil-lil of Figure 6.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

A block of sponge material i of greater length than width is secured in any desired manner, for example by cementitious material to a flexible rubber backing 2 which preferably but not necessarily covers the entire top area of the sponge material. This backing strip as shown. extends beyond the sponge material at one or more sides to form a squeegee as indicated at 4 and 5. A headed bolt 6 passes through the backing strip 2 and is located midway between the ends of the backing strip. The backing strip has a raised rounded rib 3 extending longitudinally of the strip preferably along its median line.

The end portions of the backing strip and sponge material are free at all times to be flexed in one direction to extract the liquid carried by the sponge material which is of an absorbent nature.

Since the sponge material and backing strip are flexible in opposite directions, it is advantageous to provide means to prevent the flexibility in one direction when using the mop on a floor or if the extraction of liquid from the sponge material is to be accomplished by pressing it against a strainer in a pail or bucket. We, therefore, have provided means to accomplish this result in the form of two stifi or non-bendable strips 1 and 8 having their bottom faces curved in cross section to fit each other and to fit the rounded rib 3 of the backing strip. Jux

taposed ends of these strips I and 8 are apertured to receive the bolt 6, see Fig. 5.

A handle socket 9 formed from tubular stock has its lower end flattened and provided with right angle grooves or channels I l and I2 so that it will fit the rib 3 or strips 1 and 8 in two dif ferent positions at right angles to each other. The handle is apertured as at I3 to receive the bolt, and the bolt is provided with a nut M;

In Figures 6 to 10 inclusive, we have shown a manner in which a brush can be connected with the mop head.

A flat bracket l5 has an offset channel [6 to receive the backing of a brush 1! which is fixed in position by a screw it having a knob l9 fixed to it. The backing of the brush has a threaded 3 aperture 20 at right angles to that of a threaded aperture 2 1. See Figure 10. The bracket 1 5 has a slot 22 to receive the bolt 6 and also has right angle raised ribs 23 and 24 which are rounded at their tops to fit the corresponding grooves or channels in the handle socket.

The operation will now be apparent to those skilled in this art and is as'follows:

The mop head can be used with the members 7 and 8 in the position seen in Figures 1 and 2 which will prevent the upward flexing of the end portions. If the mop is to be used along a floor and base board the members I and 3 can be arranged as shown in Figure 3 in which case one end portion can be flexed upwardly, or they can be arranged as in Figure 4 in which case both end portions can be flexed in one direction and the opposite direction. In the latter case, the members 7 and 3 can form a grasping handle It is only necessary to loosen the nut to change the angular relation of the handle with respect to the map head,

It will be apparent that the brush can be attached to the mop by sliding it into position and tightening the nut. The slot 22 permits the bracket to be moved into position without remov ing the nut. The bracket and brush can be used with. or without the strips l and 8. The bracket prevents the upward flexing of the sponge material from its normal straight line condition, and the sponge material and its flexible backing can be in a downward direction. to extract the liquid carried by the sponge material in the same manner as shown in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 8, the brush in the position shown can be used simultaneously with the sponge material in a cleaning operation. If it is not desired to use the brush at the same time as the sponge material, the knob is is turned to release the brush back from its channel, and the brush is then reassembled with the bracket into the position shown in Figure 7, whereupon either the sponge material or brush can be used inde pendently. As seen in Figure 9, the free ends of the bristles terminate above the bottom clean: ing surface of the sponge. Both the sponge and the brush may, simultaneously contact the surface to be cleaned upon increas of pressure on the handle, as shown in Figure 8.

The grooves in the handle cooperate with the raised ribs 23 and 24- to fix the handle to the mop assembly as shown in Figure 7 and in Figure 9. When theparts are adjusted as shown in Figure 7,

either the sponge material or the bristles can contact the fiat surface such as a fioor, and the other will contact the base board or any surface at an angle to the floor surface.

The unit, formed of the sponge material, its

the block, a bracket seated on the top face of the backing having a bolt receiving opening and an offset channel, a bolt secured to said backing and passing through the bolt receiving opening, a brush detachably secured in said channel with its bristles projecting at right angles or parallel to a side of the block depending on the position of the brush'in its channel, said bracket having raised right angle ribs at its opening, a handle socket having right angle grooves to engage'said ribs, and a nut for the bolt to assemble the socket with the bracket and backing.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein the bracket extends a suiilcient distance over the backing to substantially prevent its flexing in one direction, said block and backing being free to flex at all times in the opposite direction.

3., A flexible mop head, comprising an absorbent block, a flexible backingsecured to the top face of the block, a bolt extending upwardly through the backing with the head of the bolt limiting its upward movement through the backing, a bracket having an opening to receive said bolt and, an ofiset channel, a brush selectively positioned and secured in said channel to have its bristles projecting forwardly at right angles to. a side of the block or substantially parallel with a side of the block at which latter position the free ends of the bristles terminate above the bottom cleaning face of the block, a handle, .and a nut for the bolt securing the handle, bracke and backing in assembledcondition.

References Cited in the file of-this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 686,387 France Apr. 14, 19-30 

